This blog has nothing to do with gorillas (though I love 'em)...fellow bloggers have inspired me to share vintage images of Disneyland from my personal collection. But don't be surprised if you see something from a World's Fair, Knott's Berry Farm, or someplace else that is cool!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Much like Darth Vader, today's vintage slides (circa 1956) were definitely on the dark side. But that's OK, because they are still awesome! (Just like Darth).

I love this first one, with a neat detail of Frontierland's old, original train station. I can't tell if those people are actually doing some sort of transaction at that window (presenting their "E" tickets), or if they are just looking through. My guess is the latter. Unlike Main Street Station, Frontierland Station was relatively tiny; even those last folks in line will probably hop on board the next train.

The widths of the individual letters on that "Frontierland" sign seem a bit wonky, but that gives it a lot of charm. And speaking of charm, there is one of the beautiful yellow passenger cars to our right! It's just waiting at the platform for us.

I thought that the E.P. Ripley (not the "Fred Gurley" as I originally - stupidly - said… thanks Chuck!) generally was supposed to stop at the Main Street Station, while the C.K. Holliday (the "freight train") would stop at Frontierland. Maybe this was after they abandoned that practice, although you can still see the parallel tracks here. That raw lumber hasn't had much time to darken, giving this area the appearance of a newly-built prairie town. And that locomotive! Lovely.

In 1956, the trains were still making the full non-stop loop from either Main Street or Frontierland, only making essential stops for water (as Steve mentioned) or tied-up damsels on the tracks (which I'm sure he meant to mention but slipped his mind).

Also consider that the passing tracks were only used when the other train was stopped at a station to load passengers or take on water. Since No 1 and its freight train aren't stopped in the station, there's no need to use the siding.

Depending on when the photo was taken, you could have used either a "C" coupon or a "D" to ride the SF&DRR; "D" coupons were introduced in August of '56. You also could have bought a special SF&DRR ticket at either depot; these were discontinued in March/April of '58 when the Tomorrowland station opened, the Fred Gurley and the Excursion Train debuted, and the operating scheme changed to each train stopping at each station.

I have a vague memory of interacting with a person in the ticket booth at the Main Street depot as a lad in the '70's. I can't remember if we bought a ticket or if the person took a ticket; maybe I'm confusing it with something else.

Here's one of my favorite YouTube videos from Disney History Institute. It contains footage of the early Main Street passenger train and Frontierland freight train. It also contains great footage of both trains bypassing each other at that respective stations.

That un-aged wood was typical of the station. Notice the barbed wire strung from it! Interestingly, the cattle cars of the train were boarded using cattle ramps like you'd find in stock pens--the cars didn't have steps!

The things I learn here, like the fact that the original station used to be just about where Blue Bayou is... had to go look at a few aerial shots to see for myself, and yes indeed it did! It's amazing how much they shifted the train tracks, bending out that curve and giving a bit more room not only to Adventureland but to Frontierland.

I always figured they just moved the original station back a few feet. Nope!

Nanook, you are right…. that's what happens when I am in a mad rush to write a whole bunch of posts in one night! Accuracy goes right out the window.

Alonzo, I wonder if that lettering is based on some historical train sign font? Some letters are so narrow, others oddly wide, making for a funky look.

Steve DeGaetano, it's true, they used those special train tickets for years; and I didn't even think about the train stopping for water! D'oh.

Chuck, I think I am going to have to scan and post some of my vintage Disneyland train tickets; they've been seen on Vintage Disneyland Tickets, but hey, I can post them too! I wonder how the tracks were switched when one train had to pass another… was it automatic? Did somebody have to push a button? Or was there actually a person who had to pull a giant lever like in old movies?

Anon, smarter people than me have answered your question!

Steve DeGaetano, you mention the platform covers, which I don't see here… does that mean that these are pre-March '56? Interesting detail about the window and hatch being closed.

Chuck, ha ha, you picked up on the same thing!

K. Martinez, I have seen that video, it is great!

Steve DeGaetano, the whole cattle car idea is so funny; I get what Walt was thinking, but I am glad I don't have to stand when riding the train today. Especially when it occasionally jolts to a stop.

Tom, it IS surprising that they had to move the station so far after the park had only been open a year. How many other parks would have gone to the trouble? "Ah, it's good enough! Leave it be!".

Steve DeGaetano, was the gain in elevation done for a reason? Did the train have to pass over something (an access tunnel, perhaps)?

About "jolting to a stop:" Ward Kimball expressed that same concern to Walt directly. "What happens when the engineer slams on the brakes and people pile up at one end of the car?" Walt's response? "Oh, they won't do that. We'll be very careful." Walt's childlike innocence really comes through here.

Not sure why the change in elevation. I think that's just the natural topography.

Oh, and one last thing: I know you know this, but the engine is the E.P. Ripley, not the Fred Gurley. The mad rush struck twice!

The picture of the Ripley also exposes another Disneyland myth that's been around for a while--that the trains of the Disneyland Railroad ride "on top of" the Berm. They really only do this in a couple of places; mostly, they ride "inside" the Berm--as can clearly be seen here.